Pouch-like container in particular billfold and the like

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a pouch-like container, in particular billfold, pocketbook, wallet or the like, having insertion compartments which are arranged in a graduated manner one above the other and are intended for credit cards, cards of credit-card format and the like, the insertion compartments having at least one insertion and removal opening.  
     The core of the invention resides in the fact that the direction for pushing into the insertion compartments, and for removal therefrom, and the main axis of the graduation are arranged transversely to one another.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a pouch-like container, in particular inthe form of a billfold, pocketbook and the like, having insertioncompartments which are arranged in a graduated manner one above theother and each have at least one insertion opening adapted, inparticular, to credit cards and the like.

[0002] Wallets, billfolds and pocketbooks of the type mentioned areknown in various forms and basically also fulfil their purpose to asatisfactory extent. In particular for credit cards and/or plasticcards, these pouch-like containers have insertion compartments which arearranged in a flat state one upon the other and in a graduated manner.The object of the invention is to improve the functions of theseinsertion compartments.

[0003] In order to achieve this object, the invention provides that thedirection for pushing into the insertion compartments and the main axisof the graduation are arranged transversely to one another.

[0004] In the case of the known containers or pouches of the type inquestion here, the insertion direction and the graduation coincide ineach case. This means, in practice, that the insertion compartments areopen in each case in the direction of a free border of the pouch-likecontainer, with the result that, in principle, there is a risk of cardsbeing able to drop out of the insertion compartments. This applies, inparticular, when the insertion compartments have a relatively largeamount of clearance. In order that the cards to do not drop out of theinsertion compartments, the latter are usually very narrow and adapteddirectly to the format of the cards. This means that only a single cardin each case fits into an insertion compartment. Nowadays, however, itis frequently the case that users of credit cards and other plasticcards require not just one or two cards, but often a dozen cards, withthe result that it is correspondingly necessary for a number of cards tobe accommodated in a pouch-like container of the type in question here.This is also possible in a space-saving manner if not just a singlecard, but two or three cards, can be arranged in an insertioncompartment, it nevertheless being ensured that a card cannot be losteven when only a single card is located in the insertion compartmentintended for more than one card. This safety aspect is achieved if,according to the invention, the graduation and the insertion directionare not the same, as has been the case hitherto, with the result thatthe insertion openings are open, for example, toward the pouch interioror toward a folding axis of a pouch comprising, for example, two halves.The position of the insertion opening provides an additional safeguardagainst loss of the article located in the insertion compartment, itbeing possible for said article to be a credit card and/or plastic cardor also, in the broadest sense, some other document or paper.

[0005] The invention, however, is not restricted to this particularlyexpedient method of arranging the insertion openings.

[0006] Moreover, further features of the invention can be gathered fromsubclaims and from the description in conjunction with the drawing.

[0007] The invention is described in more detail hereinbelow withreference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing,in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a view of a conventional wallet with a billcompartment and with insertion compartments for credit cards or otherplastic cards;

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a view as in FIG. 1 of a wallet with insertioncompartments open transversely to the direction of graduation;

[0010]FIG. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a view as in FIG. 2 of amodified wallet with a bill compartment and insertion-compartmentgraduation arranged transversely to the insertion direction;

[0011]FIG. 4 shows a view of a pocketbook with the insertion directionfor credit cards and/or plastic cards arranged transversely to thegraduation and with the insertion direction for an identity card,driver's license and the like arranged transversely to the graduation,and with a bill compartment;

[0012]FIG. 5 shows a view of a coin holder as a handling unit with apocketbook according to FIG. 4;

[0013]FIG. 6 shows, on a different scale, a view of the inside ofanother pocketbook comprising two halves;

[0014]FIG. 7 shows, on an enlarged scale, an illustration of essentialparts during the production of an insertion compartment; and

[0015]FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram as in FIG. 7 once the insertioncompartment has been produced.

[0016] According to the prior art, a pouch-like container 1 in the formof a basically known wallet according to FIG. 1 comprises two containerhalves 2 and 3 which are connected to one another along a common foldingaxis 4. This container 1 has a coin compartment 5 with a cover 6 and abill compartment 7 which extends over both container halves 2 and 3.Moreover, a plurality of insertion compartments 9, each having aninsertion opening 8, are provided for credit cards 10 and/or for plasticcards or the like. These insertion compartments 9 are arranged in agraduated manner one above the other, the direction (double arrow E) forpushing the credit cards 10 and/or plastic cards into the insertionopenings 8 and the direction of the main axis 11 for the graduation(arrow S) are the same.

[0017] As FIG. 1 also shows, all the insertion compartments 9 are opentoward a border 12 of the container 1. This means that, in principle, acredit card 10 and/or plastic card can drop out of an insertioncompartment 9 if the insertion opening 8 is of generous dimensions.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows basically the same type of container 1, likewise inthe form of a wallet with a coin compartment 5, bill compartment 7 andinsertion compartments 9 for credit cards 10 and/or for plastic cards.Here too, the insertion compartments 9 are arranged in a graduatedmanner one above the other, the main axis 11 of the graduation (arrow S)being in the same direction as in the case of the wallet illustrated inFIG. 1. However, the insertion openings 8 of the insertion compartments9, rather than being opened toward the border 12 of the container 1, areopened toward the interior 13 or the folding axis 4 of said container.

[0019] All the insertion compartments 9 in the container 1 are closedtoward the respectively adjacent borders 12, 14 and 15. It is thus notpossible for credit cards 10 and/or plastic cards to drop out of acontainer 1 or out of a wallet when the two container halves 2 and 3 arelocated one upon the other, as is usually the case in the closed state.

[0020] Finally, it is particularly advantageous for it also to bepossible for more than one credit card 10 to be arranged in an insertioncompartment 9 in each case.

[0021] This is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2. The essentialdifference between the two containers 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2resides in the fact that the push-in and removal direction E for thecredit cards and the direction of the graduation S are the same in thecase of the known container 1, whereas they are arranged transversely toone another in the case of the container 1 according to the invention.The push-in and removal direction E is thus located perpendicularly tothe main axis 11 of the graduation S.

[0022] A further container 1 a—to be precise likewise in the form of awallet—is illustrated, on a somewhat larger scale, in FIG. 3. Basicallythe same parts have the same designations and, in addition, the letterindex a.

[0023] The container 1 a comprises, in turn, two container halves 2 aand 3 a with a coin compartment 5 a, a bill compartment 7 a and aplurality of insertion compartments 9 a for cards equal in size to acredit card 10 a. It is possible for one or more credit cards 10 a to bearranged in each insertion compartment 9 a.

[0024] The insertion openings 8 a of the insertion compartments 9 a areeach located, just as with the first-described container 1 according toFIG. 2, on a narrow border 16 or 16 a of each insertion compartment 9 or9 a, respectively. In accordance with the exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, the insertion compartments 9 a are opened towardthe border 12 a of the container 1 a, as can also be gathered from FIG.3 with reference to the double arrow for the insertion and removaldirection E. The insertion and removal direction E is located, in turn,perpendicularly or transversely to the graduation S of the insertioncompartments 9 a.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the main axis11 a of the graduation S of the insertion compartments 9 a is arrangedperpendicularly to the folding axis 4 a, about which the two containerhalves 2 a and 3 a can be folded one upon the other.

[0026] The insertion openings 8 a of the insertion compartments 9 a arearranged such that they are directed neither toward the folding axis 4 anor toward the pouch interior 13 a, whereas the graduation S inaccordance with the main axis 11 a for the insertion compartments 9 aarranged in a graduated manner is directed toward the folding axis 4 aand pocket interior 13 a.

[0027] It may also be gathered from the exemplary embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3 that the border 16 a of at least one insertion opening 8 a isangled at at least one end 17 a.

[0028] With both containers 1 and 1 a, the insertion compartments 9, 9 aare graduated via the long sides 18 and 18 a, respectively.Correspondingly, the insertion openings 8, 8 a are located on the narrowsides 16, 16 a. Even if not illustrated in the figures, it neverthelessgoes without saying that it is also possible for the insertioncompartments to be graduated via the narrow sides and to have theinsertion openings on their long sides.

[0029] A further exemplary embodiment of a container 1 b, which may be apocketbook, is illustrated in FIG. 4. Basically the same parts, again,have the same designations and, in addition, the letter index b.

[0030] The container 1 b is provided with a billfold 7 b and has acontainer half 2 b with insertion compartments 19 b for identity papersand the like on its inside. These insertion compartments 19 b may beintended, in particular, for small-format identity papers. Insertioncompartments 9 b for cards 10 b of credit-card format are provided onthe inside of the other container half 3 b. These insertion compartments9 b are arranged in a graduated manner in the direction S, whereas theopenings 8 b for the insertion compartments 9 b, corresponding to thepush-in and removal direction E in FIG. 4, are arranged transverselythereto. The short or narrow borders 16 b of the insertion compartments9 b are located parallel to the folding axis 4 b of the container 1 b,it being possible for the two container halves 2 b and 3 b to be foldedone upon the other about said folding axis. The insertion and removalopenings 8 b′ of the insertion compartments 19 b are likewise locatedparallel to the folding axis 4 b. The removal openings 8 b′ are eachlocated in long sides 20 b of the insertion compartments 19 b. Theinsertion compartments 19 b are graduated via the respectively short ornarrow sides 21 b in accordance with the arrow S in FIG. 4.

[0031] In the state in which the two container halves 2 b and 3 b havebeen folded one upon the other, that is to say in the closed state ofthe same, the contents of all the insertion compartments 9 b and 19 bare secured against dropping out in each case.

[0032] Finally, it is expedient if a pocketbook in accordance with thecontainer 1 b contains a holder 22 b exclusively for coins according toFIG. 5.

[0033] A further container 1 c can be gathered from FIG. 6, and detailsrelating to the production of the container 1 c are illustrated in FIGS.7 and 8.

[0034] The container 1 c, in turn, has two container halves 2 c and 3 cwhich can be folded one upon the other about a folding axis 4 c andwhich each bear insertion compartments 9 c and 19 c on the inside. Theinsertion compartments 9 c and 19 c are graduated in a directionparallel to the folding axis 4 c. The insertion openings 8 c for creditcards 10 c, on the one hand, and the insertion openings 8 c′ of thelarge insertion compartments 19 c are opened in different directions inaccordance with the double arrows E. The insertion openings 8 c for thecredit cards 10 c are thus located parallel to the folding axis 4 c andtherefore transversely to the graduation S, whereas the insertionopenings 8 c′ are opened in the direction of the graduation S. Theinsertion compartments 9 c for the credit cards 10 c, in turn, areclosed on the long narrow sides and one short narrow side and are openin each case only on one short narrow side, which is directed toward thefolding axis 4 c of the container 1 c. The steps illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8 may be used in order to produce such a graduation.

[0035] A respectively top compartment wall 23 c is sewn along its topborder 24 c to a base 25 c and has a flap 26 c which is inserted into aslit 27 c and adhesively bonded there. In the sewn-on and adhesivelybonded state, the compartment wall 23 c, also connected to the border 28c of the base 25 c, forms an insertion compartment 9 c with an insertionopening 8 c.

[0036] It goes without saying, however, that the production of thecontainers 1 according to FIG. 2 to 1 c according to FIG. 6 is notrestricted to the measures described above.

[0037] Finally, it is expedient if a container 1 b in the form of apocketbook has a small pocketbook format or is adapted to the size of aback pocket of men's trousers.

1. A pouch-like container, in particular billfold, pocketbook, wallet orthe like having insertion compartments (9, 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 19 c) whichare arranged in a graduated manner one above the other and are intendedfor credit cards (10, 10 a, 10 c)/cards of credit-card format and thelike, the insertion compartments having at least one insertion andremoval opening (8, 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 18 c), wherein the direction (E) forpushing into the insertion compartments (9, 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 19 c), andfor removal therefrom, and the main axis (11, 11 a) of the graduation(S) are arranged transversely to one another.
 2. The container asclaimed in claim 1 , which comprises arranging the insertion openings(8, 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 18 c) such that they are directed toward the pouchinterior (13, 13 a).
 3. The container as claimed in claim 1 , whichcomprises arranging the insertion openings (8, 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 18 c) suchthat they are directed toward a folding axis (4, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c) ofcontainer halves (2, 2 a, 2 b, 2 c and 3, 3 a, 3 b, 3 c).
 4. Thecontainer as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, whereinthe border (16) of at least one insertion opening (8, 8 a) is angled atat least one end (17, 17 a).
 5. The container as claimed in at least oneof the preceding claims, which comprises a format for the insertioncompartments and the insertion openings such that more than one card (10a) of credit-card format or the like can be pushed into an insertioncompartment (9, 19).
 6. The container as claimed in at least one of thepreceding claims, wherein the insertion compartments are staggered viatheir long sides in each case and have the insertion openings on theirnarrow sides.
 7. The container as claimed in at least one of thepreceding claims, wherein the insertion compartments are staggered viathe narrow sides and have the insertion openings on their long sides. 8.The container as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,wherein a billfold (7 b) is provided, and wherein the insertioncompartments (9 b) for cards of credit-card format and the like arearranged on the inside of one container half (3 b), and whereininsertion compartments (19 b) for small-format identity papers and thelike are arranged on the inside of a second container half (3 b).
 9. Thecontainer as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, inparticular pocketbook, which comprises an additional holder (22 b)exclusively for coins as a handling unit.
 10. The container as claimedin at least one of the preceding claims, which is of a size adapted to aback pocket of men's trousers.
 11. The container as claimed in at leastone of the preceding claims, which comprises a small pocketbook format.